Secretary of State Connie Lawson released the official voter turnout report yesterday for the 2014 general election; Beginning in January, the City of Bloomington and Bloomington Meadows Hospital will establish a new suicide support group for teens and children in the community involving free ongoing monthly meetings for community youth affected by suicide; Researchers from Indiana University’s Center on Education and Lifelong Learning recently issued a policy brief from a comprehensive survey of current Indiana educators regarding their beliefs about teacher evaluations and their confidence in the evaluation process; Bloomington will host several national softball tournaments during the 2015 and 2016 seasons; Three IU professors have been awarded an National Institute of Health grant to study acetaminophen liver toxicity; Indiana University plans to shut down 10th Street on campus for almost four weeks over winter break.

FEATURE
Hoosiers may finally get to benefit from the expanded Medicaid coverage included as part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, commonly known as the ACA or Obamacare, that was passed into law back in March of 2010. Besides the well-known health insurance mandate, under which all residents were required to enroll in some kind of insurance program, with federal subsidies of insurance premium payments, there was another provision that got little attention: the expansion of Medicaid eligibility from people with incomes up to 100 percent of the federal poverty level to 138 percent. The federal plan offered to cover, initially, 100 percent of the cost of the expanded coverage for the first three years, and then gradually reduce its subsidy to 90 percent by 2020. State responses to the offer became subject to partisanship: states led by Democrats accepted the offer, and red states initially rejected it. Several Republican governed states have since come on board. However, Indiana is a hold-out, losing out on hundreds of million of dollars of federal transfers and up to half a million more residents covered by expanded Medicaid. In the meantime, the federal government has allowed Indiana to continue with the pre-ACA state delivered medicaid program under the Healthy Indiana Plan, which was established in 2008, and currently provides coverage to around 50,000 residents. Last year, Governor Pence’s office proposed a revised plan, dubbed HIP Two Point Oh, to deliver expanded Medicaid. However, negotiations with federal authorities bogged down over some of the state program provisions, which included premiums, co-pays, and yearly maximums for recipients, which have never been a part of Medicaid. In the meantime, the state has asked for and been given waivers from the federal government to allow it to continue with the old HIP program. The most recent extension agreement, announced in mid-November, would carry the program into 2015. The joint announcements from the federal Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the CMS, and Governor Pence’s office, on the extension, also mentioned that negotiations on Medicaid expansion are continuing. On Tuesday Daily Local News correspondent David Murphy spoke to Alex Slobosky, Chairperson of Cover Indiana, which has been campaigning for state acceptance of expanded Medicaid. He informed us that he had just come from a conference in Indianapolis, where representatives of the federal and state governments talked about the current state of healthcare insurance, including the impact of the ACA on Indiana, the recent agreement to extend the state HIP for another year, and ongoing negotiations on the expansion of Medicaid in Indiana. Mister Slobosky first talked about the extension of the old HIP program.

BLOOMINGTON BEWARE!
The Holidays are a big time for both stores and scammers. Here’s a headsup on three of the con games that are going around right now.

CREDITS
Anchors: Kelly Wherley, Cathi Norton
Today’s headlines were written by Susan Northleaf, Anson Shupe, Cathi Norton, Sarah Panfil and Emily Beck along with Joe Crawford for CATSweek, in partnership with Community Access Television services.
Bloomington Beware was produced by Richard Fish, with correspondent Anson Shupe
Our feature was produced by David Murphy
Our engineers today are Adam Reichle and Matthew Gwaltney
Our theme music is provided by the Impossible Shapes
Managing Producer is Joe Crafword

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Indiana recently filed suit against The GEO Group, a Florida company that privately runs the New Castle (Indiana) Correctional Facility; The Environmental Protection Agency has recently been under fire from Indiana politicians and government agencies for its enforcement of new limits on carbon dioxide emissions from coal and oil-fuel power plants; The Monroe County Public Library has been awarded the Indiana Library Federation Programming Award; The Monroe County Plan Commission held off on adopting new rules for rural areas at a meeting November 18th; The Bloomington Utilities Department is spending $38,000 to deal with energy issues at its headquarters on Miller Drive.

FEATURE
Kathleen Falk, the Regional Director for U.S. Department of Health and Human Services appointed by the Obama Administration in 2013, serves as the Midwest’s connection to the Affordable Care Act. She stopped through Bloomington today in an event hosted by Nancy Woolery, Health Projects coordinator for the City of Bloomington. Information about the open enrollment period here, in today’s community report.

CREDITS
Anchors: Casey Kuhn, Chris Martin
Today’s headlines were written by David Murphy, Jack Hannek, Cathi Norton and Anson Shupe
Along with Joe Crawford for CATSweek, a partnership with Community Access Television Services.
The Ins and Outs of Money is produced by Ryan Stacey, edited by Dan Withered, in partnership with the Monroe County Public Library and The United Way of Monroe County.
Our engineer is Anna Legge
Our theme music is provided by the Impossible Shapes.
Managing Producer is Joe Crawford
Executive Producer is Alycin Bektesh.

The city council heard from street vendors and restaurateurs during their meeting last night
about a proposed ordinance that would address the growing street-food sector of Bloomington;
The city of Bloomington is planning to install a new stop light on West Bloomfield Road; A
portion of the city’s B-Line trail will be closed Monday, November 24 to all pedestrian and
bicycle traffic for the entire day; Republican Kelly Mitchell was sworn in as Indiana State
Treasurer yesterday; Indiana will soon have a new Deputy Secretary of State;The Indiana State
Police will conduct a Sobriety Check Point operation somewhere in Monroe County this Friday
night, November 21st; The Ellettsville Plan Commission agreed it is time to revisit the
possibility of requiring permits for yard sales during their meeting on November 6th.

FEATURE
The Affordable Care Act’s “Health Insurance Marketplace” is open for enrollment, and a group
called Cover Monroe is hosting a variety of events to help residents enroll or re-enroll in
health coverage. The “CoverMonroe Project” will hold three different types of events to
increase service to residents: Education and Enrollment Fairs that educate citizens about
available options; Health Plan Forums to help support selecting the insurance plan that best
meets family needs, and specific “Coverage Navigator” appointments for one-on-one help. WFHB
News Director Alycin Bektesh speaks with Cover Monroe project Coordinator David Meyer about the
enrollment period, the opportunities for coverage, and the ramifications for not being covered
come February 15th in todays community report.Last year 85 percent of those signing up for
personal health insurance through the affordable care act got financial help to get covered.
The price that people see when looking at plans online is the full coverage price, not
necessarily the price they would pay once their individual finances are taken into account.
Joining Anthem and Medwise in the Monroe County Marketplace this year are United Health Care,
Assurant Health, Care Source, and IU Health.

VOICES IN THE STREET
Believe it or not, Thanksgiving is a week from today. Voices on the Street will be on a week-
long hiatus so we wanted to ask your friends and neighbors about their Thanksgiving traditions
and what they’re thankful for this year.

CREDITS
Anchors: Carolyn VandeWiele & Scott Weddle
Today’s headlines were written by Alycin Bektesh, Cathi Norton and Susan Northleaf
Along with Joe Crawford for CATSweek, a partnership with Community Access Television Services.
Our feature was produced by Alycin Bektesh
Voices in the Street was produced by Kelly Wherley,
Our engineers today are Jose Rodriguez
Our theme music is provided by the Impossible Shapes.
Managing Producer is Joe Crawford
Executive Producer is Alycin Bektesh

Three term Bloomington Mayor Mark Kruzan announced he will not seek reelection while on Indiana Newsdesk’s Ask the Mayor program yesterday; Local realtors and landowners are still not satisfied with proposed changes to Monroe County’s zoning laws; Bloomington holds an above-average ranking in “LGBT Friendliness,” according to an Indiana Daily Student report on a recent evaluation by the Human Rights Campaign’s Municipal Equality Index (or MEI); Indiana University School of Medicine researchers released a study earlier this week discussing inconsistencies in patient and doctor communication; In a recent press release, Affordable Care Act (or ACA) volunteers of Monroe County announced a variety of upcoming events to help residents enroll or re-enroll in health coverage; The League of American Bicylists has named Bloomington a Gold Level Bicycle Friendly Community.

FEATURE
Members of Decarcerate Monroe County are hosting an event this Thursday, November 20th to discuss recent changes in the Indiana criminal code, the latest expansion proposal by the County Commissioners, and the links between homelessness and incarceration. Interchange Host Doug Storm invited Micol Siegal in to talk about some of these issues, we hear a portion of their discussion here, for today’s community report.

BLOOMINGTON BEWARE!
It sounds like a fabulous way to make extra money or keep yourself afloat financially, but instead of throwing you a life-preserver, these fraudsters are strapping you to an anchor and tossing you overboard.

CREDITS
Anchors: Kelley Wherley and Kathi Norton
Today’s headlines were written by Sarah Panfil, Cathi Norton, and David Murphy
Along with Joe Crawford for CATSweek, in partnership with Community Access Television services
Bloomington Beware was produced by Richard Fish, along with Anson Shupe
Our engineers today are Adam Reichle and Matt Gwaltney
Our theme music is provided by the Impossible Shapes
Managing Producer is Joe Crafword
Executive Producer is Alycin Bektesh

Indiana Department of Natural Resources has announced that deer numbers are down, but says this year’s firearms season will still be productive for Indiana deer hunters —印第安纳州自然资源署已宣布，鹿数量下降，但是他说，今年的枪械赛季依然为印第安纳鹿的猎人生产枪械。

The Indiana University Board of Trustees will hold a special meeting of its Finance, Audit and Strategic Planning Committee tomorrow in Indianapolis to review a resolution to borrow money to finance a new Arts and Science Building at its Northwest campus in Gary and to pay for renovation work on Franklin Hall on the Bloomington campus; The state agency charged with representing utility ratepayer interests has recommended that the request for a multi-year rate increase by Indiana’s largest power supplier be denied; Parents and community members in Stinesville are protesting what some say was the wrongful removal of an elementary school principal there. Later this evening on Interchange, a discussion about and alcohol use on campus with, Rasul Mowatt, an Associate Professor in the School of Public Health Justin Garcia, Director of Education & Research Training at The Kinsey Institute and Jen Maher a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Gender Studies.

FEATURE
WFHB news director Alycin Bektesh examines community resources for building an understanding of the definition of sexual assault, and new initiatives for teaching bystander intervention for today’s community report.

INS AND OUTS OF MONEY
We may not like to think about debt collection, tax audits, or foreclosures, but sometimes they happen. Jamie Andree of Indiana Legal Services stops by to talk about what to think about when your money meets the law—and how you might keep them from crossing paths in the first place.

CREDITS
Anchors: Casey Kuhn, Chris Martin
Today’s headlines were written by David Murphy,
Along with Joe Crawford for CATSweek, a partnership with Community Access Television Services.
Our feature was produced by Alycin Bektesh
The Ins and Outs of Money is produced by Ryan Stacey, with Dan Withered, in partnership with the Monroe County Public Library and The United Way of Monroe County.
Our engineer is Anna Legge
Our theme music is provided by the Impossible Shapes.
Managing Producer is Joe Crawford
Executive Producer is Alycin Bektesh.

Indiana college students graduate with more debt than students in most other states; Indiana University is moving forward with President Michael McRobbie’s plan to establish an engineering program on the Bloomington Campus; Off-duty and retired state troopers are now patrolling the Johnson Hardware Building on weekday mornings; Workers at the Monroe County Solid Waste Management District will get 5 percent raises next year; A Monroe County official said he’s optimistic the Indiana Department of Transportation, or INDOT (IN-dot), is improving its policies for dealing with drainage problems; A Bloomington man went missing and was found over this past weekend; According to a November 13 press release from the
Indiana Attorney General’s office, Marion County Superior Court judge Michael Keele has approved Attorney General Greg Zoeller’s request to appoint a receiver to oversee and prepare an accounting of the Indiana Coalition Against Sexual Assault, Inc. or INCASA, which is facing financial insolvency; The library will be receiving a twenty-five hundred dollar grant this
month; The City of Bloomington Entertainment and Arts District features the works of local artist and printmaker Elizabeth Busey in this month’s exhibit, titled “Captive on the Carousel of Time.”; The Monroe County Solid Waste Management District can start working on its new recycling project about six weeks early; Local realtors and landowners are still not
satisfied with proposed changes to Monroe County’s zoning laws.

ACTIVATE!
Our weekly segment spotlighting people working for positive change in our community.

CREDITS
Anchors: Carissa Barrett, Doug Storm
Today’s headlines were written by David Murphy, Anson Shupe, Taylor Telford and Sophia Saliby
Along with Joe Crawford for CATSweek, a partnership with Community Access Television Services.
Activate! is produced by Jennifer Whitaker, along with the City of Bloomington Volunteer Network
Our engineer is Chris Martin,
Our theme music is provided by the Impossible Shapes.
Managing Producer is Joe Crawford
Executive producer is Alycin Bektesh.

This mornings’ flurries reminded area residents that winter weather and icy roads are on their way. City of Bloomington Public Works Director Susie Johnson says her department is ready and waiting for winter weather, even if it coincides with the remnants of fall leaf pick-up. She says the trucks still need converted from leaf removal to snow plows, but they are willing and ready if need be.

Johnson and Joe VanDeventer, Director of street operations will be working together throughout the winter to keep an eye on weather forecasts and make the call regarding de icing and plowing streets. This winter, walkers, bikers and other traffic that uses paths other than city roads for transportation will find their route is cleared more quickly that it has been done in the past due to an agreement with a private contractor to take on that portion of the city’s winter storm load. Johnson says the roads are her first priority, but this year a private contractor will be working on the walking paths simultaneously.

A sixty-percent chance of snow showers are predicted for saturday and sunday nights

Newly publicized documents are raising questions about a planned deer kill in the Griffy Lake Nature Preserve. Activists opposed to the kill presented information to the Bloomington City Council during public comment last night. The city’s permit to begin sharpshooting deer in the preserve takes effect Saturday. Maria Heslin, a former deputy mayor who opposes the sharpshooting, said she recently obtained a copy of the permit application the city submitted to the state Department of Natural Resources.

The application actually states it will probably take 10 to 20 years of, “sustained management,” for the forest understory to fully recover at Griffy. Proponents of the the cull have cited ecological damage caused by deer overpopulation, although their opponents say there is no proof there are too many deer at Griffy. Heslin said the permit application presents new concerns for those opposed to the cull.

The Council did not respond to Heslin’s questions. They also didn’t discuss a separate document presented by Sandra Shapshay, who has also been a vocal opponent of the kill. Shapshay said a fellow activist filed a public records request to obtain an email sent to Council member Dave Rollo in April of last year. Shapshay said the email came from Indiana University biologist Angie Shelton, whose work has been commonly cited by those in favor of sharpshooting. She says to make an accurate estimate, the pellet count would have to cover the entire Griffy Lake Nature Preserve.

Shapshay said the additional pellet count would have cost $500. The city is paying $31,000 for a private firm to do the sharpshooting this year. Another resident, Hattie Clark, asked the Council to respond to the public’s concerns. She says it seems everyone sits quietly without responding to the important questions.

The Council did not respond. But several Council members did discuss the deer issue earlier in the meeting during the Council comments section. Council member Rollo asked the activists to consider the entire ecosystem in the nature preserve.

Council member Darryl Neher said he plans to be at Griffy when the company, White Buffalo, does the sharpshooting.

Activists have proposed a new ordinance that would put the sharpshooting on hold for two years. But no Council member has introduced that measure for consideration. The cull could begin as soon as this weekend.